Bickslow's POV

I woke up the next morning to find the spot next to me vacant. My heart dropped to my stomach. Had Freed been so disgusted or angry with me he left. I quickly broke down in tears. I knew this would happen but I just wanted to help him.

A knock on the door startled me and I jumped up facing the figure in the doorway with tears streaming down my face. It was Freed.

"Bickslow!" Freed shouted suprised as he ran and gave me a hug. Both of his arms were healed. I was baffled and lost for words. All I could do was hug him back. He smelled of Pine, Cinnamon and...Death. I pulled back and quickly checked him over for any injuries, I found none, even the Claim Mark had healed completely.

"What happened?" I asked as I stared at him in wonder.

"I-I'm not sure I just woke up and all of my wounds were healed and I feel much much better now that you um....you know..." he gestured to the Claim Mark on his neck.

I flushed completely red and pulled the blanket tighter around me as I was still naked. Freed didn't seem to care and just came in for another hug.

"I meant what I said Bickslow....though I'm not sure how to interpret them just yet, for a while now I've had feelings from you but when you saved me I just couldn't hide them." Freed whispered into my ear. I just sat their frozen before I tightened the hug.

"Freed....I like you too....a-a lot" I said as he Freed chuckled.

"I could tell, not just anyone would take a dragons mate with such little fear." He said as he pulled back.

This was it, the start of a new life. I leaned forward and captured his lips in a kiss. Freed kissed back eagerly. I couldn't believe this was real. Since when would the most beautiful man in Fiore have any interest in me. I pulled back and looked Freed in the eye.

I leaned my neck to the side "Me next!" I shouted eagerly as Freed paled. I moved my neck back to its normal position as I gulped down fear.

Freed shook his head and grabbed my hands. "Omegas don't mark their alphas only two alphas do that." He said. I grinned seeing as he wasn't rejecting me.

"Well too bad I just want those pearly whites on my neck too, Claim me baby!" I shouted finally excited for this. I had never been excited about the idea of being Claim Marked, it seemed to submissive to me but I was so crazy for Freed that I wanted him to feel like he had a say in this too.

"Bickslow I-I can't." He tried to reason.

"Yes you can, I want you to have as equal say in us as I do. So Claim Mark me and let's get this party going!" I shouted again as I hugged him close. I could feel Freed giggling against my neck. That's when he bit down. I howled at the pain, it's one thing when your fucking it's entirely other thing when your just sitting there.

Freed jumped back in fear. I just smiled at him and wiped my blood from his face. Freed then looked at my neck and paled.

"W-whats wrong?" I asked worried that maybe he had been hurt.

"Y-your Claim Mark is h-healed already...." he got out as he still stared.

I took my free hand and felt around my neck. It was healed. I thought about it and I seemed to remember something about true mates instantly healing when first becoming mates.

"Maybe we're true mates...." I said as an even bigger smile formed on my face.

Freed smiled back and kissed me again. This truly was the start of something wonderful.

**********

It's been three months since Freed and I became a couple and three months since he was raped by Laxus. I hated that us getting together was so close to the most traumatic thing in Freed's life. Freed said it didn't bother him but I could tell it did.

I had been gone for four whole weeks on a job quest with Evergreen, Elfman and Natsu who filled in for Freed since he can't take on jobs anymore plus Natsu also needed the money as Gray was five months pregnant much father a long then Freed. I guess it took Gray a lot longer to figure out he was pregnant and he was dreading the lost time for sure.

Both Natsu and I couldn't wait to get back to our respective mates. I know we haven't been mates long but I really care for Freed and being away for so long was hell but it was money we needed to out towards a better house or apartment since mine was no where near big enough. It may have two bedrooms but the extra bedroom is almost the size of a walk in closet and barely usable.

"You excited to see Freed?" Asked Natsu as me and him ran ahead into town.

"Y-yeah and nervous, we were only supposed to be gone three weeks but the job took four, what if he's mad!" I said as I shook picturing a furious Freed. If he really wanted to he could kick my ass because I would never fight back against him.

"What about you? Gray must be showing a lot by now aren't you excited." I asked as Natsu paled.

"Yeah but he'll actually kill me for being gone four weeks." Natsu said as we reached the guild. We ran inside and told Mirajane we had finished the job.

"Welcome back you guys! You seem to have an audience awaiting your return!" Mirajane said as she pointed towards a table where Gray, Lucy, Erza and Freed were all sitting at.

Freed and I had become close with team Natsu after they not only stood up for Freed against Laxus but carted him off to jail with the police to make sure he went (minus Natsu who had been beaten up by Laxus and Gray because he was pregnant.).

I smiled real big as Freed pushed himself up from the table and ran towards me. I caught him in my arms happily but was knocked over. I made sure he had a soft landing though.

"B-Bickslow I'm so sorry I'm just so happy your!" He stated with tears in his eyes. I just laughed it off. I sat up and wiped the tears from his eyes as well as mine.

"I told you call me Bick, no more worrying about the full name thingy." I said as I hugged him close not caring who was staring.

"But Bick is a weird nickname...." he muttered under his breath but I heard him.

"And so is baby truffle muffin but you still love it!" I said loudly as Freed blushed from his errs to his cheeks. I laughed and kissed him in front of everyone. He smelled so good right now but I wanted him to smell more like me. I knew the cinnamon was from his pregnancy. We had long figured out I apparently smell like death and apple cider and now just a hint of pine.

Freed slowly got up and offered me a hand but I refused and got up on my own. I then noticed Natsu and Gray had shown us. For once Gray was wearing his cloths and actually had a huge jacket over his form. Maybe it was to hide the baby bump?

"Hey so what's this suprise Gray won't tell me?" Natsu asked as he poked Freed's chest. I a low growl automatically erupted from my chest when Freed winced.

"Oh I'm sorry Freed!" Natsu yelped out as I pulled Freed closer and wrapped my arms around him. Freed simply patted my head and whispered for me to calm down.

"Fine but next time he goes all touchy touchy on you I'm tickling Gray." I said with a smirk.

Natsu's anger flared at that moment and he wrapped his arms around Gray or at least tried. That's when he realized and started trying to pull Gray's jacket off.

"Hey! HEY! Stop it Natsu! Your ruining part of the surprise!" Gray shouted as he pushed Natsu off. Freed stepped over to Gray and an enchantment appeared around him and Gray.Me and Natsu were sent flying back. Freed and Gray chuckled as we rubbed our heads.

"It seems my magic was needed after all" Levy said as she walked over to the outside of the enchantment.

"Hey what was that for baby?" I asked Freed as I got up rubbing my head.

"I'm sorry Bick, but Natsu almost ruined the surprise." Freed said as he finally used my nickname. I smiled and helped Natsu up.

"What surprise?" Natsu asked seemingly having forgotten about the last ten minutes or so. That's when we both noticed Gray and Freed were wearing matching outfits. All pure white with a black jacket over them.

"No fair I wanna know the secret..." Natsu whined as he looked as his mate.

Freed and Gray chuckled. "You will tonight" they said in unison.

Tonight? Well this was bound to be interesting.

TBC